Apparatus for laundering clothes



ay l2', 1936. J. WHITE 2,040,417

APPARATUS FOR LAUNDERING CLOTHES Filed Deo* 2,6, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Jamf /v wir@ q ffm @p May 12, 1936. .-1. N. WHITE APPARATUS FORLAUNDERING CLOTHES lFilm Deo. 26 195ol 3 sheeis-sheet 2 Y Jam@ Wma.

May 12, 193.6. I J, N, W|||TE 2,040,417

APPARTUS FOR LAUNDERING CLOTHES Filed Dec. 2e, 1930 :5 sheets-sheet :s

37 Ja/.7265 N. wmf.

Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FORLAUNDERING CLOTHES J ames N. White, Denver, Colo. Application December26, 1930, Serial No. 504,840

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for laundering clothesand more particularly to an improved method and apparatus forcontinuously carrying out the several operations to which the clothesmust be subjected.

A number of diii'erent kinds of machines are necessary to carry out theprocess of laundering clothes and the present day method of transferringthe clothes from one machine to another `by manual labor requiresconsiderable time, and, when the clothes are wet, involves laborious,disagreeable, and unhealthful work. This, together with the idleness ofthe machine during these manual operations, renders the present dayprocess of laundering very ineiiicient and costly.

It is one object of this invention to provide a method and apparatusthat will overcome the above diiculties.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus that shall becontinuous in operation and automatically transfer the clothes from onemachine to another without the necessity of manual handling of theclothes.

Another object is to provide a method vand apparatus for launderingclothes that will permit the clothes to fall by gravity from one machineto a conveyer, the latter operating to transfer and deposit by gravitythe clothes into the next machine.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for launderingclothes that will permit the clothes in one machine to drop by gravityto another machine, for providing continuous operation.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for launderingclothes, comprising a plurality of machines having means intermediatethereof for automatically transferring the clothes from one machine toanother, as well as means for keeping the several batches of clothesseparate, and depositing them in individual bins in the next machine.

A further object is to provide, in a method and apparatus for launderingclothes having the above characteristics, novel means for retaining,with the batches of clothes in the several bins in the initial machine,the means of identifying the several batches, the said means beingadapted to transfer each marking tag with its respective batch ofclothes t0 the next machine.

A further object is to provide a method and apparatus for launderingclothes that will greatly reduce the time for carrying out the severallaundering operations, thereby greatly decreasing the cost of suchoperations, as well as reducing the number of machines required to carryout a given volume of work.

A still further object is to provide a method and apparatus forlaundering clothes which will eliminate the laborious and unhealthfulwork of 5 signed as a denition of the invention, the latter 20 beingdefined in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. I is a view in elevation, partly in section, of anapparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. II is a plan view of a detail of the conveyer mechanism embodyingthe invention.

Fig. III is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. I showing the tub andassociated parts in normal position for washing operation.

Fig. IV is a section similar to Fig. III but showing the tub andassociated parts in position at the extreme of the fluid dumpingmovement.

Fig. V is a view similar to Figs. III and IV but showing the tub andassociated parts and the cage at the end of their respective movementsin the operation of dumping the clothes.

Fig. VI is a partial view similar to Fig. I illustrating anotherembodiment of the invention.

Fig. VII is a view in elevation of still another embodiment of theinvention, and

40 Fig. VIII is an enlarged detail View of Fig. VII.

The invention consists of a plurality of machines for handling clothes(here illustrated and described as a washing machine and an extractor),and means intermediate thereof for transferring the clothes from onemachine to another without assistance of manual handling of the clothes.

In the form shown, Figs. I, II, III, IV and Vcomprise a washing machine,l0, supported a distance from the floor l2, or other suitable supportingsurface, provided with driving mechanisms I3 and l 4. For the purpose ofthis disclosure the washing machine ID is identical with thatillustrated and described in my application, Serial No. 462,655,

dated June 20, 1930; however, for the sake of simplicity the followingdescription is given: Y The washing machine I is rotatably supporte insupporting members I5, and comprises an inner perforated clothescontainerY I6, having a sliding door I1, Van outer tub I8, the latterbeing substantially semi-circular in shape. The cover I 9 is fixed toand supported by the tub I8 but at a distance lfrom one of the upperedges of the tub, as shown Yat 2 I. This provides a longitudinal openingalong one `side of the tub so that when the tub`l8 is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction, the fluid within the tub will pour outthrough the longitudinal opening 2| and be directed to a drain orgutter, 22, by means of aprons, 23V and 24. Y

The apron 23 may be iixed to the supporting members I5 in any suitablemanner and the apron 24 is `also supported by the members I5, but ispivoted thereon by a plurality of mechanisms spaced apart throughout thelongitudinal lengthof'theV tub, each of which mechanisms comprises a(support 25, having a pin 2-5, extending outwardly therefrom forengaging a slot or groove 2T pron vided in the lower end of the apron24.Y Thenor-V mal positionfof the apron 24'is shown by Figs. III and Vand it may be biased to this` position by yielding means 28 or byweighting its lower end as shown at 29.v The upper end of the apron 24terminates in a curved portion 3 I for engaging spaced lugs 32 providedalong one edge of the cover member I9. It will be noted that this edgeis pro-Y vided with an outwardly supported flange 33 which serves toassist inthe directing `of any fluid that may splash out Yof the opening2 I during `operation,

of the machine. Y

Fig. IV illustrates the machine in its extremeA fluid-dumping position.This position is obtained by rotating the tubfand cover member I9counter- Y clockwise by the driving mechanism I4, and it fluid fromfalling on the floor directly under the mal position by the yieldingmeans28.

' lThe cover I9 of the tub I8 is alsoprovided with al sliding door 34,adapted to open byfmeans of the grooveV 35, disposed btween'rband'36 andVcover I9, alll of which structureis fully disclosed in the above'mentioned application; As stated above, the tub I8'and top I9'arerotated by means of the'mechanis'm I4'while`the cage I6 is rotatedindependently of the tubflloyl means of the driving mechanism` I3;.LikewiseV the details of the driving mechanismcl3 and I4"are fully 'setforth in the above mentioned application;` Y

Arranged between the bottom Vofl the tub and the floor I2 is a conveyer31, Vof any endless type,

carrying receptacles or containers 38, adaptedto registerlwith theseveral bins forming theinner Y These bins are indi-n bucketsorcontainers 38 around the end .of the in the extractor.

conveyer through one of the openings 42'in the iloor I2, the clothes aredropped into the several sections of the extractor.` In order to keepthe several batches of clothes separate it is necessary that the speedof the Vcontainers 38 be synchronized with the speed of the bins orcompartments Means 43 is provided for this purpose and comprises a shaft44, adapted to rotate the extractor at the proper speed, carrying,rigidly iixed to the shaft, a gear 45, adapted to mesh with gear `46,carried by shaft 41, the latter being provided at its lower end with aVbeveled gear 48, meshing with a gear 49, carried on one lend of a shaft5I, the latter also being provided at its other end with a gear 52meshing with a gear 58 xed to shaft 59. The shaft 59 also 'carriesiasprocket wheel 6I adapted to mesh with veyer. Any-approved means, notshown, may be provided for breaking the connection between the extractor4I and the chain 62Y and likewise for rotatingthe extractor during theextracting proc-` ess. It should here be noted'that while only oneconveyer Vand one washing machine is shown associated with theextractor, it is to be under-V stood that any number of conveyers'andwa's'h-v Y Ying machines maybe arranged, or one conveyer may be extendedunder a number of machines, so`

that one extractor may be employed to take care of a number of machines.In this connection it might be welltosay that the extracting processrequires considerably less time than the washing process-and theadvantageso-f arranging a number of machines to utilize a singleextractor will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and such anarrangementis within the scope of this invention. In order that theseveral batches of clothes mayA be identied, a novel means, comprisingcups 64 positioned adjacent the upper edge of the tub and on theopposite side from the groovev 2I at substantially the center of each ofthe bins 39, these cups having their upper ends open so that when thewashing machine is rotated inra clockwise direction for dumping theclothes into the containers 38 (see Fig. V), the marking tags will fallsimultaneously with their respective batches of clothes and willcontinue on through the several operations. Y

' The operation of the embodiment of this invention above described isas follows:

YThe clothes are put into the several bins 39 of Vthe washing machine byway of the doors 34 and I'I,.placing the respective marking tags in thecups 64, Yafter which the doors vare closed and the driving mechanism I3is operated for rotatingthe cage IB a predetermined number ofrrevolutions in one direction and then the sameY number in the oppositedirection, for a predetermined length of time, after which the means` I4Vis operated to rotate the tub I8 in a counter- Vclockwise direction,emptying-the fluid within the tub by way of the opening 2|, aprons 23,24,

and drain 22. VThe means I4 is of the reversible type and with thepresent structure the iluid is exhausted from the tub by the timetheslot or opening 2| has reached its lowermost position;

since the means I4 is so designed as to reversev the direction of thetub, upon completing its previous direction rthe clean or LneW fluid isimmediately admitted to the inner part of the tub and a sufficientquantity of fluid is quickly suppliedwithin the tub.

The mechanism for supplying fluid such vas wash Water, soap and bluing,is also fully disclosed in thefabovenientioned,application and does notform any part of this invention., f

Upon completion of the several successive washing{joperat ions andyfluid dumpings the tub and the cage I6 are rotated simultaneously in aclock- Wise direction by means I4 and I3 respectively, at which timeboth the doors 34 and I 'I are open and the clothes and the tags aredropped by gravity into the containers 38, after which time the conveyeris operated by any suitable driving mechanism to convey the clothes androtate-the extractor, during which time the means 43 comprising gears,shafts, sprockets, chain and associated parts 44 to 62 operate to causethe clothes contained in the several containers 38, With theirrespective tags, to be deposited by gravity into respective individualcompartments of the extractor. Immediately upon completing the dumpingoperation of the clothes from the washing machine into the containers38, the washing machine may be immediately refilled with clothes for arepetition of the same operation.

Fig. VI illustrates a slightly different embodiment of the structuredisclosed by Fig. I in that openings 50 are provided in the floor I2 fordropping the clothes from the washing machine through the said openingsinto a conveyer supported beneath the floor I2, the remaining portion ofthe apparatus together with the operation, being identical.

Fig. VII illustrates another embodiment of the invention, wherein aplurality of machines, I0, are disposed on a floor or supporting surfaceI2, the latter having chutes 1I extending downwardly therethrough andconnecting with a main chute 13, the latter adapted to convey theclothes to an extractor 4I, positioned on a lower floor or supportingsurface, not shown. Each of the chutes II is provided at its bottom endwith doors 14, for selectively connecting them with the main chute 13.The extractor may be rotated by any suitable automatic means ormanually, for receiving the several batches of clothes in separate bins.The doors 'I4 may be manually or automatically operated, as desired.'I'he latter embodiment provides a,-.convenient arrangement foremploying a single extractor with a plurality of Washing machines, andin some instances may be more cheaply constructed. 'I'he washingmachines employed by the various embodiments are of the gravity dumpingtype such as 'that described above, or those disclosed in other patentsand applications of the same inventor.

It will be obvious that the belt conveyor may extend under a pluralityof washing machines positioned in series, preferably end to end, andreceive clothes from any or all of such machines and convey the clothesto the extractor.

There is thus provided a method and apparatus for laundering clothesthat will transfer clothes from one machine to another Without themanual handling of the clothes. The present method and apparatus greatlyreduces time heretofore required to carry out the laundering operationsand in so doing there is provided a method and apparatus which willdecrease the number of machines heretofore required for completing agiven volume of work. It has been found in practice that one machine ofthe present apparatus will turn -out Vsubstantially the same amount astwo machines vof. the same size heretofore provided.

'I'he manual labor heretofore required is substanspect tothataccomplished by the machines Wherel it, isv Anecessary that the-'clothes be manually handled several times during the launderingoperations. Any possible chance of the clothes becoming snagged orotherwise torn is obviated.v 'I'he disagreeable, laborious andunhealthful Work of transferring wet clothes by hand is entirelyeliminated, as is the flooding of the laundry floor which resultstherefrom. Also much floor space is saved by positioning the conveyingmeans under the Washing machines instead of in the usual aisles betweenthe Washing machines which are ordinarily positioned in lines end to endwith aisles between.

Other advantages such as the quick disposition of the soiled fluid fromthe Washing machine, whereby the sediment and dirt within the machine ispositively disposed of, the quick manner in which the machine may berefilled with fluid for a second operation, the transferring of theclothes by gravity from one machine to another or by one machine to aconveyer, the latter transferring the same to the next machine, bygravity, the synchronism between the operation of the several mechanismsand other advantages, will appear to those skilled in the art, Vall ofwhich fall Within the spirit and scope of the specieation and claims.

While the invention has been described as a method and apparatus forlaundering clothes, it is to be understood that the same apparatus maybe employed for bluing, dyeing, drying, etc., of clothes, and generallyfor the handling of fabrics and textiles wherever the same are subjectedto fluid within a machine, and while only a certain number of washingmachines have been shown, in combination with an extractor, it is'to beexpressly understood that any number of diiTerent kinds of machines maybe employed and still remain within the scope of the invention. Otherchanges, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may bemade in any part or parts of the method and apparatus without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappendedrclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for treating fabrics, a rotatable tub having a coverspaced therefrom to provide a longitudinally extending opening along theback upper edge of the tub, means for rotating said tub to bring saidopening to the under side of said tub whereby to dump fluid from the tubthrough the opening, a fluid diverter swingingly mounted at the rear ofthe tub and normally upright, means operable by the tub during suchrotation adapted to swing the diverter to inclined position with itsupper edge beneath said opening as such rotation brings the openingtoward the bottom of the tub, whereby to divert fluid, dumped throughsaid opening, to the rear of the tub, and means for returning saiddiverter to normal position.

2. Apparatus for laundering clothes comprising, in combination, asemi-cylindrical tub having a cover, openings for receiving clothes intothe tub, a longitudinal opening along the rear Y 5 K Y {by gravityinto-said conveyer, means to'rotate upper edge of said tub, a conveyerybeneath said tubrand adapted to move longitudinally thereof,

Vmeans to rotate said tub in one direction to bring saidclothes-receiving,opening tothe bottom of said lcub whereby to dumpclothes from the tub saidrtub in the opposite direction to bring saidVlongitudinalopening tofthe bottom of Ysaid tub whereby tozdumpfi'uidrfrom said tub through said 1`0} opening,V a swingingly mountedfluid diverter tion back of said conveyor.V

JAMES N. WHITE.

and means to return the diverter to normal posi-

